Edinburgh’s Andy Noble failed to make the second run of the Giant Slalom in his first outing of the season on the World Cup circuit at Beaver Creek in Colorado.

But after a serious knee injury ruined the early part of this year, the 24-year-old was pleased to be selected as the British Team skier and back competing at the very highest level.

Andy has already shown form this season with a top six finish in last month’s European Cup event in Landgraaf in the Netherlands.

He is also delighted to have two new Edinburgh -based sponsors – Whiteburn Property Developers and Tidalfire, a specialist software and training consultancy – and has already qualified for the world championships in France at the start of next year. 

Fellow-Scot Final Mickel suffered an injury setback in the downhill at Beaver Creek and is likely to be sidelined for several weeks.